Busy roads expected for holiday season

Andrew Topolski checks his gear before heading out from Albert J. Ellis Airport to St. Louis, Missourri for the holidays Thursday afternoon.

John Althouse/The Daily News

By AMANDA WILCOX - Daily News Staff

Published: Friday, December 21, 2012 at 09:14 AM.

More than 2.5 million North Carolinians will travel by car this year for the holidays — one of the deadliest travel seasons of the year, according to AAA of the Carolinas.

The Christmas/New Year travel holiday starts Saturday and runs through Jan. 1; 56 people died on North Carolina roads during the period last year. The average of 5.1 traffic-related deaths per day was a 42-percent increase from the average 3.6 deaths on the road during the rest of the year, according to AAA.

AAA of the Carolinas expects 2,778,000 North Carolinians to travel more than 50 miles from home, with 90 percent, or 2.5 million, driving to their destination; 6 percent, or 167,000, flying; and 4 percent, or 111,000, traveling by train, bus or boat.

AAA said more people will drive this holiday season because of lower gas prices statewide. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in North Carolina is $3.23, down 62 cents since peaking in mid-September and down 8 cents from Thanksgiving holiday prices. Jacksonville travelers can expect to fill up on regular unleaded for an average $3.20 per gallon while in the city and see prices increase slightly as they make their way through the state, according to AAA’s online Fuel Price Finder.

The cold weather can also bring unexpected problems, especially for those traveling North. AAA said motorists could become stranded or stuck in snow. The organization recommends motorists keep an emergency kit in their car that includes a mobile phone and car charger, blankets, flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, drinking water, non-perishable snacks, small shovel, a small sack of sand or cat litter for traction, windshield scrapers, battery booster cables and plastic emergency triangle reflectors.

AAA of the Carolinas also predicts air travel to increase by 4 percent this year, as airfares have decreased nationwide, with an average ticket costing $203 for travel on one of the top 40 U.S. routes.

“Air travel is still a bargain by comparison,” said Christopher White, director of Albert J. Ellis Airport in Jacksonville. “And even though gas prices have gone down, airfare tends to also adjust with fuel prices.”

More than 2.5 million North Carolinians will travel by car this year for the holidays — one of the deadliest travel seasons of the year, according to AAA of the Carolinas.

The Christmas/New Year travel holiday starts Saturday and runs through Jan. 1; 56 people died on North Carolina roads during the period last year. The average of 5.1 traffic-related deaths per day was a 42-percent increase from the average 3.6 deaths on the road during the rest of the year, according to AAA.

AAA of the Carolinas expects 2,778,000 North Carolinians to travel more than 50 miles from home, with 90 percent, or 2.5 million, driving to their destination; 6 percent, or 167,000, flying; and 4 percent, or 111,000, traveling by train, bus or boat.

AAA said more people will drive this holiday season because of lower gas prices statewide. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in North Carolina is $3.23, down 62 cents since peaking in mid-September and down 8 cents from Thanksgiving holiday prices. Jacksonville travelers can expect to fill up on regular unleaded for an average $3.20 per gallon while in the city and see prices increase slightly as they make their way through the state, according to AAA’s online Fuel Price Finder.

The cold weather can also bring unexpected problems, especially for those traveling North. AAA said motorists could become stranded or stuck in snow. The organization recommends motorists keep an emergency kit in their car that includes a mobile phone and car charger, blankets, flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, drinking water, non-perishable snacks, small shovel, a small sack of sand or cat litter for traction, windshield scrapers, battery booster cables and plastic emergency triangle reflectors.

AAA of the Carolinas also predicts air travel to increase by 4 percent this year, as airfares have decreased nationwide, with an average ticket costing $203 for travel on one of the top 40 U.S. routes.

“Air travel is still a bargain by comparison,” said Christopher White, director of Albert J. Ellis Airport in Jacksonville. “And even though gas prices have gone down, airfare tends to also adjust with fuel prices.”

White said the airport had a 12.6-percent increase in Thanksgiving travel from 2011 to 2012 and added that if Thanksgiving is any indication, the airport “should see a nice increase over Christmas.”

During the Christmas holiday travel period in 2011, White said the airport served 9,800 passengers, at an average of $231 per ticket. He added that with the recent return of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the airport is expecting those numbers to go up.

He said the airport plans to have extra staff on hand and extra parking available until after the New Year.

“We look forward to a busy holiday season and we’re ready for big crowds,” White said.

Contact Daily News MIlitary Reporter Amanda Wilcox at 910-219-8453 or amanda.wilcox@jdnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AWilcox21.

Winter driving tips:

Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.

Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.

If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.

Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).

If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm. It’s easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.

Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.

Source: AAA of the Carolinas

Holiday air travel tips:

With more than 24 million people traveling by air during the holiday, lines will be longer and it may take a few more minutes to find a parking place than usual. Skip the stress of arriving at the last minute and give yourself time to check in and pass through security at a leisurely pace.

Pack your bag in layers rather than haphazardly tossing items into the suitcase. It makes it easier to screen and less likely to need to be hand searched.

Do not wrap any gifts. If security officers need to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap it. If traveling with food, check the TSA’s list of items that should be checked or shipped ahead.

Avoid baggage fees and toting heavy luggage through the airport by packing lightly.

Do not pack the following in checked luggage: keys, medications, travel documents, valuable or fragile items, or anything that you can’t live without; even for a day or two should your baggage be delayed.